Monday This 'n That

That's off the list. Now it's on to the curtains and some relevant furniture. Whew!!

Hope everyone had as great a Thanksgiving as we did. There was enough food to feed an army and all of it was wonderful. We could barely button our britches( Oh alright, we have problems with that anyway) but this was special circumstances. Dani's Dad,Chris made stuffed artichokes to start, her Aunt Alison made whipped sweet potatoes with a brown sugar and nut topping that I could have just eaten by the bowl full. Wow was that good. Like dessert for dinner. The various kids were so funny and it was so nice to see Dani's Grandfather looking so well. All in all a great evening. The best dog in the world, Henry, was very funny. Henry is a Puggle who will lick your skin off snuffle snuffle, lick,lick...love that pup.

The day after was a quiet sleepy day. Saturday my husband decided to help me with things around the house that I hardly ever get to. while I sorted through clothes in my bedroom to give away(what a pile of stuff) and finished edging the paint in the sewing room, he straightened the kitchen bar top that becomes the catch-all for every piece of crap that comes through the door. He thinned magazines(gad what a lot) shredded papers, made the kitchen look so much better. Why do I feel so guilty when he does that. He washed the kitchen windows and I was actually annoyed with him. Probably because it was something that I should have taken care of a month ago. I felt awful and ashamed for letting it get to the point where they were really hazy. Must be that small German voice that comes along with guilt and shame, two very German voices in my head that I never get rid of. Thanks Oma.
We finished off Saturday by piling into Bob's car for a meal at a very small local Mexican place called El Ranchito. Six tables-real Mexican food. Delicious.

Sunday I went out and came back with a small turkey and we did another Thanksgiving. Really good and the house smelled so good. Plus I have left overs for sandwiches etc. This week I have to make a couple dozen cookies for Trinity Episcopal Santa Fair on Saturday. They are having a cookie walk. You pay $5. for a bag and then you can walk around and fill it with your choice of many different kinds. I'm making peanut butter and peanut butter chocolate chip. I also saw a recipe on Tommy's blog for crushed Oreos dipped in melted almond bark. Still tossing that one around in my head. I guess I'll see how the week evolves. Wed. I have an appointment with the Dermatologist for a new face...har Really, I have a small, itty-bitty, spot on my pert little nose that has turned white and I just want to have it looked at. Many years ago, when I worked for a Derm. I remember that something turning color was bad but something losing color was not so good either. My skin is cooperating nicely by breaking out in various different annoying things that hopefully will last till Wed and not vanish Tues. and come back Thurs. It's also time to have some sun damage on my arms checked out while I'm there. Seems like a couple of these freckles are bigger than usual. We'll see. After the appointment I'm heading to Tarjay for sheer curtains for my new room. The excitement it building now. As always in December, I'm looking at a few hours of letter writing for the Pantry too.

A VERY TALENTED, DEAR, DARLING, FRIEND of mine has come to my rescue regarding the bad circulation in my paws. Sometimes, when I write those letters, my hands really are cold and the arthritis really gets painful so I have been coveting a pair of those fingerless gloves that will cover my crabby mits. She e-mailed me yesterday and showed a pair that were on the needles and coming my way in the near future. She's the best. My adoration is well-founded.
Well, it's time to get a few things done before the guys come home. It's raining and dark out...I'll start by turning on some lights.....Talk to you soon.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I'm taking this opportunity to voice my gratitude for the many gifts I have been given.

I'm thankful for my family and the relative health of all of us. We each have something that has compromised our health this past year and with grace, and modern medicine, we have come out still standing.
I'm thankful that my son has found love and look forward to watching this sweet time unfold for him. Love really is grand.
I'm thankful for Dani who loves James
I'm thankful for Dani's family, who are gracious, kind, and smart. We have been invited to share Thanksgiving with them and are looking forward to a fun time with lots of their traditional foods. I've been asked to bring mashed potatoes and gravy, which I suspect has more to do with James than them. James doesn't feel it's Thanksgiving unless there are mashed potatoes and a gravy lake. I will apologize for allowing this forever.
I'm thankful for friends who make my day happier. Friends on line who I have enjoyed getting to know and for all they share with me both personally and creatively.
I'm most thankful that in 1984 I looked at Roger and saw that he would be the best husband in the world. He was already a true friend so it was a good bet. One I'm happy I made to this day.

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday with lots of good food and someone to enjoy it with.

I have finished painting the sewing room but am so overwhelmed with Food Pantry work right now that I must, once again, apologize for nothing quilty to show. We have gone from 100 to 140 families this year and the work never ends.
Anyway, the room is coming along and I'm learning to love the idea and the paint color. I think I would have liked it to be more blue but it is done and I'm not doing another color right now. I need curtains and a table for cutting/small ironing board and machine set up. One day I will sew again.....really.
Blessing to you all.

Nor'easter

It's been like living in crazytown around here. The weather is whatever it decides to be on any given day. Fall, late fall, winter, early spring...whatever. I'm certainly not looking forward to the snow season but maybe we could have the same sort of temps for a couple of days running. Just a small voice out here in the wilderness asking...pretty please. I love the 65 degrees but not when it's 35 the next few days.
As you can see by the photos we have had that swamp creating thing called a Nor'easter in my neck of the woods...or beach as is more appropriate for me. Here are some pics of the day that my photography staff(Hi Honey!) took on Saturday morning. We've had much worse than this so I would rate it as a semi-nor'easter...har matey.
The pics are clickable.
The pictures by the harbor look normal but believe me, that's not normal. On Friday, when I was in the village the water was over the bulkhead and into the parking lot. Rarely is there a time when you can step out of your rowboat(should you have one) onto the dock.














The picture of the flag in the park is another good indication since that bulkhead of rocks is normally a long way down-even at higher tides.

I really love what Roger did with this photo of the salt marsh which is normally not under water. There is a small inlet/creek which feeds this marsh and usually it is full of birds and rushes and you can tramp around on it. Not so much today.

Well the only other interesting activity around here is a really good one. Yesterday we painted the ceiling in my sewing room. We were unsure if the one coat would cover well but it did a nice job. Now on to the walls on Monday. To celebrate, we went to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant last night. James had a Margarita and I should have but was so tired that I figured I'd be useless if I drank so I just had another fabulous meal. BIL Bob had the paella, I had chicken chile rellenos, and Roger had some sort of enchilada dish with 3 varieties. Man, is that place good. A few years ago I got a cookbook based on the recipes of Frida Khalo. In it was the recipe for this chile dish. It had all sorts of thing stuffed into the chile including nuts and, to finish, was sprinkled with pomegranate seeds on the cheese topping. The only thing missing from my dish last night was the pom seeds. OMG it was so many kinds of wonderful. I could eat there every day. Thank goodness it's a little drive because other wise I would be sneaking over for lunch. People who think that places like taco bell are authentic Mexican are so deprived. It's very hard not to make yummy noises while you eat this delicious food. I love the people who work in this place as well. They are so lovely and they all look just like they stepped out of a Diego Rivera painting. Two thumbs up to Quetzalcoatl-or as the rest of the family call it Q

Well this Sunday is quickly drifting away from me. I am making meatballs and spag. for dinner and I better get going on that. Thanks for stopping by even though there's nothing sewing going on. I hope to remedy that in the very near future even if it's only to get out the machine and make a few things for the church fair on Dec. 5th. They are having a cookie walk wich I will contribute to. You pay $5 and they give you a bag and you go down the row of cookies and pick what you want. I also saw a really cute pattern for some tissue holders that in only 4 easy steps and I'm told that the little kids love buying them for Mom's for Christmas. Easy Peasy-that's the ticket. I think it's in the latest issue of Quilts & More. I also saw on Dorothy's blog where she made some crayon holder rolls that look very easy and with some nice bright fabric would be little kid friendly for bnot too much money. All things to consider....

Anyway, have a great Sunday!

Chowdah!!

Once again, I've been missing in action. I can't seem to get it together. Hoping that next week will go better. Roger has gone to work for at least a half day for the past few days. He's finally beginning to feel much better.Not complaining but my day just seems to get away from me when he's just leaving at 10-ish. Normally by that time I've got aload of wash and myself done and I'm ready to head off to errands and such things as the Library, the Pantry, or whatever. The last two weeks have been taking place down the rabbit hole.
Today, I did get to the store and decided that it was a good day for Chowdah!!. Do any of you watch the Simpsons? The mayor of Springfield(who sounds like JFK) has a fight with a french chef in his kitchen and they have a shouting match, each yelling their own version of Chowder. The chef calls it chowdair and the mayor chowdah. So it goes around here and yes, I am 61 and I watch cartoons...wanna make something of it?
Anyway, I digress wildly...I'm making soup! Clams, shrimp, mussels, tilapia and scallops. Creamy, New England, Seafood Chowdah.
Aside from that not much is happening. I may just give up the whole sewing baby quilts thing and buy the babies gifts. There is a plot (afoot, har) to keep me from being creative in any way. The latest distraction is sort of my own doing. I dropped s dish on my foot and for the first few hours it just felt a little sore. Yesterday it developed into a pain that I just can't stand. Shoes are not my friend. The dish fell onto my big toe-not the nail part but up nearer to where there would be a bunion if I hadn't had it removed years ago. Can those things come back?Well, now that sucker is bright red and reminds me of the days before removal when I could hardly walk without pain. Not nice, and since I don't do well with pain killers, I', not a happy camper right now. It's back to the flip-flops and it hurts less when I'm off it.
So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! I will finish the soup for dinner and stay off my foot so I can go to the Thurs. Night Quilting Girls. We haven't seen each other for weeks and even though I haven't a thing to show, I'm dying for the latest dish and my two friends are great at that. I get more dish on Thurs. nights than a couple of months without them. It's a small village and there are some really strange people around here lately. Ho Hum, small town life....
Besides, they are both fabulous bakers and there's often a chance of getting something delicious with my tea and dish.
I have soup to make, wash to dry and elevation of the foot to accomplish so I'll try to get back soon. I was hoping to get some pictures of the fabric I've purchased and received in the past few months of idleness. I will try to get to that so you don't have to listen to my whining without a reward of eye candy.
Talk to you soon.

Fabric Fondling

One of the Thursday Night Quilt Ladies has a very prolific family. There are two babies expected in the New Year. Neither of the couples care for really traditional quilts which kind of makes me happy. Not that I don't like the traditional baby stuff, but I would like to make a quilt in one of the non-traditional patterns that Amanda makes on her wonderful blog Crazy Mom Quilts.
I like the coin quilt she is showing now and, frankly, I like everything she does. A few days ago she even took some tiny pieces and just sewed them down to a background and it looks so cute. Can't really get much easier than that.
I went to the local quilt shop(I love saying that) and found the focus fabric on sale and we just wandered around and found these two additions to it in the store. I have a couple of others that I will throw in and, easy peasy, Baby Quilt #1
I haven't got a clue for the second yet. Maybe I should just make another with similar fabric.
So, there you have it. I will un-earth my machine and hope it's still working well. I just really need to sew something. You understand...right. Room or no room, In need to make something!!

Roger went to work today. That Z-pak stuff is a wonder. He went from really awful to pretty darn good in two days. I think a few nights of sleep un-interrupted by coughing will help a lot as well.
Chicken Enchiladas for dinner. Gotta go feed the crew.

Firefox rules!!

Hallelujah and thanks to all of you. I switched to Firefox and it immediately allowed me to open blogs and stuff I haven't been able to. I'll be back later. Right now I have a sick hubby who needs some attention and I could use a little sleep myself. Poor Roger was coughing so hard during the night he was choking. Finally went to the Dr. this morning. Since he is at risk for serious problems stemming from this bronchial stuff-they wrote him n Rx for a Z-pak and some serious cough meds. I'm sure he'll be out cold by this afternoon.
Again, thanks all for the tips.
By the way, I got paint yesterday-it's called Sliced cucumber-very clean and pretty neutral. As soon as my patient is better I'll paint. Don't want to add any paint smells to the already painful sinus & bronchial issues.
Nurse DiDi

And yet, more

I have noticed that a few people are complaining about Blogger and all the glitches. Such things as loosing your entire blog and not being able to post and some other freaky stuff. Maybe that's part of my problem. Maybe there's just too much crap with computers and blogs. Don't know. I'm sick of dealing with it and I've had my crack staff try the things that you've been kind enough to suggest. Here's the problem now. I have several blogs that I've been reading for a number of years. I can't even open them. The computer freezes and I get a message that says Microsoft Internet Explorer is not responding, blah, blah, blah. Also, when I go to a blog and they have a link I cannot open the link without it freezing everything and I have to close the whole thing.
Have I mentioned that I really hate computers and I think they are a plot by some un-named foreign country to make us all babbling morons. If so, mission accomplished.
I'm going to Tarjay, Home Despot, and possibly a stop at the quilt shop to see what's up because, seriously, there could be things I haven't seen and need desperately(har) that could take my mind off of the time-sucking, pain in the ass computer issues. What? You want me to hang around cleaning the house or something useful??? Nice try! Wish me luck